A little more than a year after its Broadway run came to a close, the revolutionary rock opera ""Rent"" is being performed at Madison's Overture Center. The cast features three of its original members from its first appearance off-Broadway: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal and soloist Gwen Stewart.
""I feel extremely lucky to be able to come back for this tour and do this again. Every step of the way with the show has been a surprise,"" Pascal said. ""And this was one more surprise, to have the opportunity to come back and ... go out with a bang.""
""Rent"" made its debut in 1994 at the New York Theatre Workshop.
""Things were so crazy back then, we couldn't really enjoy performing the show in the way you can now ... when there is a lot less baggage to accompany the performances,"" Pascal said.
The baggage, Pascal explained, came from being in a new show to being ""thrust into these positions of notoriety."" On top of that, Jonathan Larson, who wrote the music, lyrics and the book, died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm the night before the show's first performance.
""Rent"" sticks out like a sore thumb in Larson's portfolio. It's edgy, controversial, provocative, sexual and alternative, covering hot-button topics, including homosexuality, HIV/AIDS and homelessness.
Taking place in the artistic, avant garde Alphabet City in the East Village of New York City, ""Rent"" follows a group of friends who live in the experiencing love, loss, disease, poverty and survival together.
After 14 years on stage, ""Rent"" continues to deliver a unique emotional experience. Pascal and Rapp still shine in their roles as Roger and Mark. Performing with energy, enthusiasm and emotion, their passion for the show remains vibrant. Their veteran experience has added a level of comfort both on stage and to their characters that allows the audience to become engrossed in the story.
Their chemistry is electrifying, and their camaraderie is clearly genuine. The argument the pair have when Roger leaves to travel to Sante Fe, N.M., is so charged, you can feel the insults and daggers they are throwing at each other. And when Pascal and Rapp unite to sing ""You're What You Own,"" as a reconciliation song, they are in perfect harmony.
""Without You,"" Pascal's duet with Lawson, is one of the most memorable songs in the musical. Their voices twine together in such a complex harmony that you will be left with goose bumps and a longing for the person you love.
The score is also unconventional. It ranges from up-beat, energetic, numbers like ""Out Tonight"" to heart-wrenching songs like ""I'll Cover You (Reprise),"" in which McElroy laments his lost love. Composed of highly charged rock songs and ballads, the music captivates the audience.
The powerful effects of the score are amplified by the immensely talented 15-member cast. When Stewart soars over the rest of the cast in ""Seasons of Love,"" you cannot help but sit on the edge of your seat in amazement. For those who have seen ""Rent"" before, it is impossible not to hum or lip-synch the songs.
The pit orchestra is surprisingly simple and small, especially considering its large and full sound. It resembles a rock band in most of its instrumentation, including electric piano, bass, guitar and drums. The orchestra rocks hard, yet is still able to blend in with the overall performance and adapt to the needs of the performers.
Thematically, ""Rent"" poses the question of what to do with the time we are allotted on earth. What do you do when you know your time is limited? Do you, as one of the most powerful songs in the show suggests, live like there's ""No Day But Today,"" or do you protect yourself emotionally from any further pain?
""‘The success of ‘Rent' comes from its ability to connect with the audience, said Pascal. ""You can only hope what you do connects ... but you can never be sure until you get out there and do it.""
""Rent"" performances will continue through Sunday, Jan. 31. Student rush tickets are available for $25 two hours before each performance. Specific show times and ticket information are listed at www.overturecenter.com.
